AI generated graphic score

Many composers from the 20th and 21st Century used graphic scores instead of traditional music notation to describe and record their musical ideas. A graphic score uses uses images, shapes and pictures instead of notes. In addition to the more widespread popularity of graphic notation, new AI generated graphic music score has expanded its possibilities. [ read more about graphic music notation ]

new AI generated graphic music score has expanded its possibilities

The Analysis

Graphic notation works differently to traditional musical notation, as it uses images, abstract symbols, graphic elements, illustration, and text to convey meaning in both linear and non-linear form to the performers. A few of these composers incorporate traditional notation and then bend it in unique ways.

The visual comparison between traditional and modern graphic notation can be striking. Traditional notation is linear and rigid. Modern graphic notation is open, can offer flexibility, and allow the performer to interpret the composer’s ideas. [1]

Notable pioneers of graphic notation include composers such as John Cage, Roman Haubenstock-Ramati, Mauricio Kagel, György Ligeti (Artikulation), Krzysztof Penderecki, Karlheinz Stockhausen, and Iannis Xenakis, Morton Feldman, Constance Cochnower Virtue, and Christian Wolff. [2]

You can identify four types of graphic representation of the music: Time-based abstract representation, Time-based abstract notation, Free abstract representations, Free abstract notation [2]

In addition to the more widespread popularity of graphic notation, new technology has expanded its possibilities. In his book The Digital Score: Musicianship, Creativity, and Innovation,[3] Craig Vear describes how Artificial Intelligence and animation can be used to enhance the graphic score experience. He claims that these technologies are “the logical development of graphic score experiments”. This idea lead me to experiment some prompts with MidJourney engine V5 (default version on the 15th of May 2023).

MidJourney – AI Tool for graphic score experiments

György Ligeti

Graphic score drawing with different colors and shapes, in the style of Ligeti, rhythmic compositions, princesscore, spiky mounds, shodo, drawing machines --ar 256:79 --v 5
AI generated graphic score in the style of György Ligeti
AI generated graphic score in the style of György Ligeti
minimal graphic score drawing with different colors and small shapes, in the style of György Ligeti, musical rhythmic compositions, white paper --ar 256:79 --v 5 --s 1000
AI generated graphic score in the style of György Ligeti
AI generated graphic score in the style of György Ligeti
minimal graphic score drawing with different colors and small shapes, in the style of György Ligeti Artikulation works, musical rhythmic compositions, white paper --ar 256:79 --v 5 --s 100
AI generated graphic score in the style of György Ligeti
AI generated graphic score in the style of György Ligeti
AI generated graphic score in the style of György Ligeti
AI generated graphic score in the style of György Ligeti
AI generated graphic score in the style of György Ligeti
AI generated graphic score in the style of György Ligeti
graphic score drawing with different colors and shapes, in the style of Ligeti, rhythmic compositions, princesscore --ar 256:79 --v 5
AI generated graphic score in the style of György Ligeti
AI generated graphic score in the style of György Ligeti
AI generated graphic score in the style of György Ligeti
AI generated graphic score in the style of György Ligeti
AI generated graphic score in the style of György Ligeti

Brian Eno

minimal graphic score drawing with different colors and small shapes, in the style of Brian Eno Ambiental Works, music rhythmic compositions, princesscore --ar 256:79 --v 5
AI generated graphic score in the style of Brian Eno Ambiental Works
AI generated graphic score in the style of Brian Eno Ambiental Works
AI generated graphic score in the style of Brian Eno Ambiental Works
AI generated graphic score in the style of Brian Eno Ambiental Works
AI generated graphic score in the style of Brian Eno Ambiental Works
AI generated graphic score in the style of Brian Eno Ambiental Works
AI generated graphic score in the style of Brian Eno Ambiental Works
AI generated graphic score in the style of Brian Eno Ambiental Works
AI generated graphic score in the style of Brian Eno Ambiental Works
AI generated graphic score in the style of Brian Eno Ambiental Works

John Cage

minimal graphic score drawing in black and white, in the style of John Cage, music rhythmic compositions, white paper --ar 256:79 --v 5 --s 500
AI generated graphic score in the style of John Cage
AI generated graphic score in the style of John Cage
AI generated graphic score in the style of John Cage
AI generated graphic score in the style of John Cage
AI generated graphic score in the style of John Cage
AI generated graphic score in the style of John Cage
AI generated graphic score in the style of John Cage
AI generated graphic score in the style of John Cage
AI generated graphic score in the style of John Cage
AI generated graphic score in the style of John Cage
AI generated graphic score in the style of John Cage

Iannis Xenakis

graphic score drawing in black and white, in the style of Iannis Xenakis, music rhythmic compositions, white paper --ar 256:79 --v 5 --s 500
AI generated graphic score in the style of Iannis Xenakis
AI generated graphic score in the style of Iannis Xenakis
AI generated graphic score in the style of Iannis Xenakis
AI generated graphic score in the style of Iannis Xenakis
AI generated graphic score in the style of Iannis Xenakis
AI generated graphic score in the style of Iannis Xenakis
AI generated graphic score in the style of Iannis Xenakis
AI generated graphic score in the style of Iannis Xenakis
AI generated graphic score in the style of Iannis Xenakis

Cornelius Cardew

graphic score drawing in black and white, in the style of Cornelius Cardew, minimal music rhythmic compositions, white paper --ar 256:79 --v 5 --s 500
AI generated graphic score in the style of Cornelius Cardew
AI generated graphic score in the style of Cornelius Cardew
AI generated graphic score in the style of Cornelius Cardew
AI generated graphic score in the style of Cornelius Cardew
AI generated graphic score in the style of Cornelius Cardew
AI generated graphic score in the style of Cornelius Cardew

Roman Haubenstock-Ramati

graphic score drawing in black and white, in the style of Roman Haubenstock-Ramati Konstellationen (1972), minimal music rhythmic compositions, white paper --ar 256:79 --v 5 --s 500
AI generated graphic score in the style of Roman Haubenstock-Ramati
AI generated graphic score in the style of Roman Haubenstock-Ramati
AI generated graphic score in the style of Roman Haubenstock-Ramati
AI generated graphic score in the style of Roman Haubenstock-Ramati
AI generated graphic score in the style of Roman Haubenstock-Ramati

Are you interested in a printed version, or upscaled to a bigger format, or to see the catalog of other works? contact me or chat with my A.I. Assistent 🙂 (your requests will be processed soon or later).

More about

Graphic score music notation

Graphic Score Sonification Installation

How to compose a graphic score

Resources

[1] https://davidhall.io/visualising-music-graphic-scores/
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphic_notation_(music)
[3] Vear, Craig (2019). The Digital Score: Musicianship, Creativity and Innovation (1st ed.).